“Dear Sean, how can we save this country?” the email began.
The writer lives in Hartford, Connecticut. His name is Michael. I have no idea why Michael thinks a hayseed like me is qualified to answer this loaded question. I’m not a smart guy. Blondes tell jokes about me.
Still, I have an idea.
The way to save this country is to eat together. We don’t eat together anymore. We don’t eat supper at the same table. When did that stop?
A recent study found that only 29 percent of Americans sit to eat supper with family each day. Fifty years ago, the statistic was nearly 99 percent.
On average about 50 percent of millennials admit to cooking their own suppers. Whereas the number was around 80 percent with baby boomers.
Something else. We need to put the Wurlitzer organ back in Major League Baseball.
I don’t know if you’re aware, but baseball has undergone many changes since we were kids. Even the rules have changed. There is a pitch clock. No more cigar
smoke.
But the biggest disappointment was losing the organ. I attended a game recently and all I heard was Lady Gaga blasting overhead.
This is an affront.
In 1941, organist Ray Nelson debuted at Wrigley Field. It was the first time organ music was heard in baseball. He played before 18,678 Cubs fans. He played “When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for T-U-L-S-A.”
A half century ago, each American ballpark had an organist. Today, there are only seven.
Another way to save this country is to bring back piano lessons. Five decades ago, 81 percent of American kids took piano lessons. Do you know what the percentage is now? Eight percent.
That’s not enough Americans to form a Rotary Club.
I took piano lessons. My teacher was Miss Betty, who smelled like bath powder and Icy Hot. She said if I played “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead…